Debden House

Debden House is a conference centre and campsite located in Loughton, Essex, England.

Newham Borough Council use the house extensively for staff training, team-building exercises and conferences.

Facilities include a shop, cafe, washing and drying machines, electric points, toilets and showers.

It is constructed in two storeys of painted brick with a slate roof to a rectangular floor plan and was probably a former coach house.

It was bought in 1883 by Joseph Thomas Palmer, a printing ink manufacturer, who lived there until his death in 1898, followed by his son-in-law until 1917.

[11] It seems that sometime after this both Debden House and the Hall were sold to Nicholas Pearse who was the husband of Sarah Hamilton, William's daughter.

This is evident from a sale notice[12] in 1846 for the 212-acre Debden Green Estate which describes the Hall and the House.

[14] In 1797 he married Sarah Hamilton who at this time would have been living at Debden Hall as her father William owned it.

The couple had no children and when Nicholas died in 1825 he left Sarah a life interest in his estate and after that his will stated that it was to be sold and the proceeds should be put in a Trust to be distributed amongst distant relatives.

As well as the Hall there was The Mount, The Beeches, Elm Cottage and Debden Green House which was described as a detached residence with stabling, gardens and paddock containing altogether about two acres.

She had an independent income and she was allowed to live at Debden Hall for the next three years after which it was left to his daughter Gertrude Lellyett Palmer.

In the advertisement Debden House is described as “a well-built freehold residence in a pleasant situation facing the Green containing eight bed and dressing rooms, bathroom, five reception rooms and domestic offices with stabling for three horses and pleasure and kitchen gardens.”[22] It seems that they decided not to sell the estate because the 1911 Census shows them both to be at Debden Hall with their daughter Dorothy, three visitors and eight servants.

[24] At this stage the estate was split and Debden House was sold separately to Edward Green.

In 1947 the house was sold to the County Borough of East Ham whose successors Newham) still own it today.